A couple of sad days depicted here. First pic was the first two of our four A-4F's from NAS Dallas OMD preparing to depart for the Boneyard, flown by "Bullet", the CO of NAS Dallas and "Cowboy", another O-6, who had been a CO of VC-12 and was then the CSO at COMNAVAIRESFOR. The second pic is "Dusty" and me at the Boneyard a couple days later after dropping off the last two A-4's. I'd already donated my Dallas Adversary patch to the AMARC guys for their display board. By the time we'd completed the signover paperwork, they had already begun stripping the airframes for transfer to an "undisclosed buyer."
Our orders were written to acquire commercial transportation back to Dallas. A friend of mine was the OINC of the CFLSW excutive detachment at NAF Andrews, who flew the CNO and other DC big-wigs around. They'd just received their new Gulfstream C-20's. I'd called him asking if they needed to train any of their pilots and he'd said yes. So we arranged for them to send a C-20 to Davis-Monthan to bring us back. Dusty and I grabbed a ride to base ops and were waiting when the heavys at DM came rushing in, scurrying about, frantic because a C-20 from Andrews was arriving, unannounced. They literally rolled out the red carpet complete with silver bullets and chain and were standing at attention waiting for at least a one or two star to stroll off the plane. When it stopped and they lowered the stairs, we calmly strolled out in our dirty flight suits and parachute bags with flight gear, climbed aboard, and departed. It was beautiful.